Drone Technology

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), more commonly known as drones, have become one of the most important technologies used on construction sites. Drones can be used for a wide range of tasks such as surveying land, mapping out sites and inspecting structures without putting people at risk. They also help reduce costs associated with labor since they can get the job done faster than traditional inspection methods. Meridian has made extensive use of drone photography and videography to capture finished building images that only a controlled aerial view can provide.

3D Printing

With 3D printing, it is now possible to produce physical prototypes quickly and accurately. This helps save money by eliminating the margin of error and costly mistakes that might otherwise be made by hand. This technology is also being used to create custom parts or pieces for structures that cannot be sourced through traditional manufacturing channels. This can help reduce time spent on sourcing materials and keeps projects on track. Additionally, 3D printing can help reduce waste since only the exact amount of material needed is used in production.

BIM Software

Building Information Modeling (BIM) integrated with project management software helps streamline operations by providing a unified platform for viewing all project data in one place. This makes it easier for team members like architects, owners, construction managers, and subcontractors to collaborate and stay up-to-date on project changes quickly. Potential issues can be addressed before they become a problem. Collaborators can see everything they need to execute on a day-to-day basis.

BIM software also provides valuable early insights into energy efficiency which is essential when constructing sustainable buildings or homes. For example, BIM software can indicate areas of possible air leakages from windows or doors or other parts of the building envelope which could significantly increase energy bills if not addressed properly during construction phases.

Always Learning

Technology is having a major impact on the way we approach building processes as it continues to advance. By leveraging drone technology, 3D printing, BIM software and other modern tools, teams are able to minimize costs associated with labor and materials while creating more efficient homes and buildings that use less energy.

At Meridian Construction we understand how important it is to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies in order to provide our clients with exceptional workmanship every time. If you’d like to learn more about some of the latest technologies used to leverage building efficiency and quality, feel free to contact us online or call 603-527-0101.

The post How Construction Teams Leverage Technology to Improve the Building Process appeared first on Meridian Construction | NH Construction Company.

Here in New Hampshire, it’s relatively common for building contractors to take on both commercial and home building projects. This is not so in other parts of New England, especially to our south. Contractors tend to either be Commercial or Residential builders but not both. This makes sense because each category requires different sets of expertise even as some areas overlap.

In the less urban areas of NH (most of it), commercial jobs tend to be smaller in scope and include things like boutique retail shops & malls, dental, medical and professional offices. Therefore, numerous contractors in NH who mostly build homes are happy to take on the smaller commercial projects. Fortunately, the professionals in our industry know their limits and most of them stick to what they can best handle. The larger industrial, institutional, corporate and municipal facilities are fewer yet prized by the larger contractors in our state and we gladly compete for our share.

Cross-Category Construction Management

Generally speaking, project scope and architecture are the major differences between commercial buildings and homes. However, there are plenty of situations in which an exceptional custom home requires the same scale of site planning, engineering, materials and capabilities as small and medium sized commercial projects. And in many cases, there is greater scrutiny of the finished work in a custom luxury home as it meets its owner’s highest expectations.

Bridging Project Scope, Building Science, and Art

As noted, today’s distinctive and larger scale residences take on the engineering and budgetary scope of a significant commercial project. Everything from environmental impact studies to final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy require rigorous planning, execution and follow through.

Meridian Construction is one of the few commercial Construction Managers in New Hampshire that proudly showcases some of the amazing lake homes we’ve built in addition to our extensive commercial project portfolio. Understandably, many commercial builders want to be known only in the commercial real estate world. Meridian’s clients, on the other hand, understand that our cross-category expertise only adds value to the end results of their buildings and grounds, whether a business, institution or domicile.

Leveraging Assets

We’re grateful for our lasting and solid relationships in both the commercial and residential architecture and engineering communities. Meridian Construction has worked very hard over 3 decades to build our financial strength to handle larger projects and apply leverage where and when we need to. In fact, during the height of the Covid building materials crisis, we completed a major new multipurpose school building within budget and on time as a direct result of our supplier relationships and financial leverage.

Whether it’s an educational, industrial or municipal building, or even the dream home you’ll pass on to future generations, consider working with the team at Meridian Construction. We’re building the future and building dreams.

Focused on Results

We appreciate the opportunity to describe our strategic approach to growing as a builder and construction manager in New Hampshire. How well has it worked? The proof is in the buildings. We offer you a video tour for a closer look at select properties in both our Commercial and Residential project portfolios.

Meridian Residential Projects

Meridian Commercial Projects

Saint Sebastian Hall at Saint Patrick Academy

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“Building green.” What does it really mean? Simply stated, it’s construction using environmentally sustainable practices, and it is truly a win for everyone – the owner, the builder and the community.

There are lingering misperceptions about green building practices that include higher costs, less desirable recycled materials and more complex maintenance requirements. That may have been true a decade ago but the industry has evolved with natural materials, innovative technologies, methodologies and mechanical systems that make building green the premium standard today.

Meridian Construction has remained on the leading edge of construction technology since our inception and continues to adopt advances in best practices. Some of our projects have become regional models of low environmental impact and energy efficiency innovations.

A Case Study in Better Green Building

A recently completed project in Moultonborough, NH is an ideal case study in green building practices. The owners of a new, 7,600 square foot custom lakeshore home required that energy efficiency be a top priority without compromise to space, comfort and beauty. We therefore utilized technologically advanced construction methods to make “Blackey Cove Estate” one of the most efficient homes in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. The house blends so well into the lakeshore and natural landscape that it’s footprint is hardly perceptible from the water or adjacent woods.

Let’s start with the home’s Intello membrane insulation. Highly adaptive, the temperature-sensitive membrane protects walls against condensation in winter by contracting, and facilitates drying out in summer by expanding. Damage to walls from moisture and mold are greatly reduced, and the inside temperature remains stable.

Additional innovations include double roof and wall systems entailing double inch and a half strapping in correlation with Roxul insulation in order to create a thermal barrier. Roxul is an advanced yet very effective stone wool insulation material.

The use of ductless mini-split heating and cooling units also aids in providing the house with outstanding efficiency levels. Blower door testing of the Blackey Cove Estate yielded air tightness results very rarely witnessed in residential applications.

One of the most remarkable features of the 7,600-square-foot luxury home is the latest in energy-efficient technology in combination with copious natural wood finishes throughout the house. Finished wood was integral to the design, befitting its woodland setting.

Entering the house, you’ll see soaring timbers and arches reminiscent of ancient churches or sailing ships, as part of the true post-and-beam construction the clients required. The copious finished wood was sealed and protected with very low VOC lacquer to display its natural beauty without using potentially dangerous chemicals.

Your might expect high utility bills year round from a house with so much glass and wide-open space. Almost half of a home’s energy consumption goes toward heating and cooling, so maintaining a seasonally constant temperature saves the owners thousands of dollars in energy bills. Meridian’s team worked with engineers and building material experts to incorporate double insulation and specialized thermal air and moisture barriers to create a whole building “envelope” while showcasing the wood and glass.

Various barrier and sealing products were used to ensure that this home would last for generations.

• TREMproof 250GC was used at the footings to prevent wicking of water.
• The foundation to the sill plate was sealed with Extoseal Finoc.
• Solitex Mento 1000 with built-in rain screen was used for the air barrier of the exterior wall, then sealed with Vana seal tape.
• Solitex Mento Plus was applied over the rafters, then dadoed out 2×4 on the top of the rafters as the roof air barrier, to prevent leaks at fasteners.
• Intello Plus “smart” barrier material was installed over the 2×6 exterior walls, under the 2×4 strapping as the interior air barrier, then sealed with Vana tape.
• Two layers of 2×4 strapping was applied in opposing directions to help with the thermal break. It also serves as a place to run wiring and plumbing without penetrating the Intello Plus air barrier.
• Windows and doors were sealed with Profil Tape.
• Contega caulk was used between layers of wood framing and in areas of dissimilar materials to reinforce the air-tight seal.

This lakefront gem sets an unparalleled standard for sustainable, energy-efficient construction, thanks to design and construction details devised specifically for this project. Meridian Construction brought the architect’s sustainable design to life in an eco-friendly, one-of-a-kind luxury property that will stand the test of time and the elements season after season for generations.

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